Improvement in harvesters



GEORGE w. HOLMES.

Improvement in Harvesters. No.123,631, 7 1 25 1 Patented news, 1872.

Unrrnn S'rA-rns GEORGE W. HOLMES, OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,631, dated February 13, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Mower and Reaper, invented by GEORGE W. HOLMES, of Council Bluffs, in the county of .Pottawattarnie and State of Iowa.

Figure 1 is a rear view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. v

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved device designed especially for facilitating the operation of the cutter-bars of reapers and mowers; and it consists in the construction and combination of the various parts of the device, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

A represents the drive-wheels; B, the axle; and G, the frame-work of the machine, with which the shafts or tongue D is rigidly connected. To the inner side of one of the drivewheels A is attached a crown-wheel, E, into the teeth of which mesh the toes or teeth F attached to the rock-shaft G. The two toes F are placed at an angle with each other, as

' shown in Fig. 1, so that they may be operated alternately by the teeth of the crown-wheel E. The toes F are also so placed that they may be operated upon by the teeth of the wheel E upon the opposite sides of said wheel to turn or rock the shaft G alternately in opposite directions. The shaft G works in bearings in the ends of the bars H, which slide in notches, keepers, or ways formed in or attached to the frame 0. The bars H may be formed in one piece by bending it twice at right angles, as

shown in Fig. 2, or they may be made separate and rigidly connected together by one or more cross-bars. To the bars H are pivoted the ends of the inclined bars I, the other ends of which are pivoted to the lever J. The lever J is pivoted at its lower end to the axle B, or some part of the frame 0, and its other end projects into such a position that it may be conveniently reached and operated to throw the toes F into and out of gear with the teeth of the crown-wheel E. The lever J is held in either position by the curved catch-bar K attached to the frame 0. To the rear end of the rock-shaft G is attached a two armed bar, L M, to the end of the lower arm L of which is pivoted the end of the connecting-bar or pitman N, the other end of which is pivoted or hinged to the inner end of the sickle-bar O, which works upon the finger-bar P, in the ordinary manner. The inner end of the fingerbar P is hinged to the rear end of the arm Q, the forward end of which is rigidly attached to the frame 0, and which must have sufiicient strength to sustain the draft strain upon the cutter-bar. To the upper end of the upper arm M of the two armed bar L M is pivoted the end of the baror rod R. The bar It inclines downward, and in its lower end is formed an eye to receive the rod N. Upon the rod N, upon eachside of the end of the rod or bar R, are placed coiled springs S, the outer ends of which rest against and are supported by collars or nuts T placed upon the rod N. The collars T may be screwed upon screw-threads out upon the rod N, or may be secured by setscrews or other fastenings that will allow them to be conveniently adjusted and will hold them securely in place when adjusted. The springs S are designed to prevent the cutter-bar from striking dead at the end of the stroke and to assist it in starting upon the return stroke.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The pitman N provided with springs S S and nuts T T, the bar R and the two-armed lever L M, combined in a harvester with the cutter-bar and the rock-shaft that drives it, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The subject-matter of the above claim, in combination with the sliding and supportingfiame' H, as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE W. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

E. R. PAIGE, A. V. LAnrn/LER. 

